Fracking, a means of extracting gas from shale and coal seams, is causing ructions among Australian farmers. The continent is loaded with reserves of both shale and coal gas. This is being liquefied and exported to energy-hungry Asian markets.

But much of this gas is under good farmland in Queensland and New South Wales. “Lock the gate” protest groups have urged farmers not to allow the mining companies onto their land. Anti-fracking and coal seam gas signage on the roadsides is widespread. Environmentalists, often called “greenies”, are aligned with landowners against the mining companies.

But the mining companies can force the issue as gas and oil reserves are government-owned. Also, some landowners welcome the extra income which they have negotiated for having gas wells on their property.

In 2013 the then premier of New South Wales Barry O’Farrell asked the state’s chief scientist and engineer, Prof Mary O’Kane, to carry out an independent review of the safety and provenance of this method of gas drilling.

The chief scientist more or less gave fracking a clean bill of health, provided good practice was maintained.

Her report on www.chief scientist.nsw.gov.au/coal-seam-gas-review concluded that risks can be managed with good planning, good procedures, and constant monitoring.

She concluded that new technology will continue to make the process safer.